Category Archives: Travel

Health & Medicine, Law Enforcement, Travel

NATIONAL DUAL CAMPAIGN FOR HEALTH CARE, AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING LAUNCHED IN THE U.S.

March 5, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

WASHINGTON, D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles) – According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 32,719 people died in traffic crashes in 2013 in the United States (latest figures available), including an estimated 10,076 people who died in drunk driving crashes, accounting for 31% of all traffic deaths that year.

One person is killed by a drunk driver every 39 minutes.

Meanwhile, it is estimated that 45,000 Americans die each year because of the lack of health insurance. Yet, the Republican Party is unrelentless in its resolve to strike down the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare.

So, in its commitment to significantly reduce American deaths caused by drunk driving and the lack of affordable care, the National Democratic Committee, in partnership with the NHTSA and the American Medical Association, launched a comprehensive and ambitious campaign to create greater public awareness about these unnecessary deaths.

The group has just unveiled the first of a series of billboards, posters and bus signs that remind the American people not to drink and drive and not to vote Republican. (See photo of traffic sign above).

Human Interest, International, LGBT, Travel

FIANCÉ OF MURDERED TRANSGENDER FILIPINA WRITES AN OPEN LETTER TO FILIPINOS

March 4, 2015 Pol Pinoy 2 Comments

Every so often, The Adobo Chronicles takes a break from its routine stories to bring to the attention of our readers and followers issues of serious and important concern. German national Marc Sueselbeck is the fiancé of Filipina Jennifer Laude who was murdered by U.S. marine Scott Pemberton in Olongapo City last year. Sueselbeck has been banned by the Philippine government from returning to the country. March 13, 2015 would have been the day that Sueselbeck will marry Laude. He wants to visit Laude’s grave on that special day. Following is his open letter to the citizens of the Philippines. We ask our readers to share his letter with their friends and networks.

To the citizens of the Philippines,

I fell in love with a Filipina woman named Jennifer Laude more than two years ago. Because of my heartbreak over her murder, I made a bad decision and scaled a fence only to ensure that her killer is still on Philippine soil. Because of this, the Philippine government has banned me from returning for the trial of her murderer and for a date that is so important for me, March 13, which would have been our wedding day.

I wrote a letter to a number of authorities in the Philippines pleading for them to allow me to return to your country. But I also wanted to write you to ask for help from anyone who can help me to speak to the government to give me leniency, I would be eternally grateful to you.

Maybe you know how much of a weight on my heart it is to feel the death of the person I love most in the world. But this weight is so much more difficult to bear now that I am unable to return to the Philippines just to be with our family and friends to find justice for Jennifer. I am unable to simply visit her grave, and what hurts the most, I can’t even be near her in any way on the day we were supposed to be married.

I remember what Pope Francis said when he visited the Philippines, that we need to have both mercy and compassion. That is all I ask of you, that you take pity on me and allow me to be with my beloved and her friends and family.

Finally, I would like to express my deepest apologies to anyone who felt that I was disrespectful to your laws and your country. This has never been my intention. It was only because I truly went out of my mind for a moment because of Jennifer’s death. Never have I wanted to disrespect the Philippines and Filipinos.

Thank you for reading this letter and for giving me so many things to be happy for in the two years that I have known the Philippines. It is my last wish that maybe you, the people of the country that I love, can help me be with one of your own, my most beloved.

Humbly,

Marc Sueselbeck

Economy, Politics, Sports, Travel

IN THE PHILIPPINES, MILLIONAIRES GET TAX EXEMPTIONS WHILE ORDINARY CITIZENS PAY MORE

March 1, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Metro Manila train commuters pay more for long lines

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Last January 4, base transportation fares on Metro Manila’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2, and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 were increased from P10.00 to P11.00 plus P1.00 per additional kilometer.

Department of Transportation and Communication Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the increase, which he called “a tough decision” that had to be made in order to bring improved services on the MRT and LRT lines.

Metro Manila’s rail lines, particularly the MRT-3, have been the subject of complaints from commuters because of congestion and frequent delays caused by glitches and breakdowns.

During last week’s Adobo Tour, our our publisher, editor and star reporters personally experienced the long and winding lines to get to the ticket booths, to wait for trains to arrive and to exit the platforms. Not to mention having to wait for the next two trains because only 3 to 4 incoming passengers at a time can be accommodated in the sardine-packed train cars.

But while daily commuters have to deal with less take home pay from their already meager salaries, millionaires who own several airconditioned luxury vehicles and have so much money they could charter an entire Boeing 747, are beng granted tax exemptions by the ever-brilliant, grandstanding Philippine legislators . Manny Pacquiao, for example.

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has proposed to grant a special tax exemption to Pacquiao to inspire him in his megafight with American Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2, 2015 (May 3 in Manila).

Pimentel said the special tax incentive was a “fitting tribute to the priceless package of proudly promoting the country once again in the international map.”

Pacquiao, an elected congressman from his hometown of Saranggani, has been in trouble with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in recent years for alleged failure to pay taxes on his earnings from his championship fights in the U.S.

BIR Commissioner Kim Henares who has a reputation for going after celebrities for their prize winnings abroad, has not commented on the proposal by Pimentel.

So, for tax-free living in the Philippines, run for public office or take up boxing for a profession!